No matter what exactly you are engaging in -be it a sport or household DIY- protecting your eyes is absolutely essential.
Your eyes are an incredibly delicate part of your body that are often exposed, so keeping them covered in the appropriate way, such as with safety glasses or face shields. Knowing which eyewear you need for which occasion is a necessity.
With this in mind, we are going to be looking at 16 different kinds of protective eyewear and eye protection for a wide range of different activities. Let’s get started.
1. Visors
Visors are used by sportspeople everywhere to protect their eyes as they play. There are a huge variety of visor types out there, with the most common being those that are attached to a sports helmet. Visors are usually made up of a piece of curved plastic attached to said helmet.
Visors are useful for blocking out UV rays, but they can also prevent eye injury, filter out UV light, and correct vision. They also have very clear lenses that make it easy to see through them.
They also help to protect from flying objects, though they will not be able to protect the entire face like a face shield could.
2. Sports Goggles
Goggles come in a wide range of varieties and are used for all sorts of sports from swimming to racquet sports.
The lenses within sports eyewear tend to be made from the impact-resistant material that is polycarbonate, allowing for the eyes to be protected from objects moving quickly as well as other potential hazards that they may need protection from.
The material also has built-in UV protection, which is another valuable feature. It is important to remember that each sport requires different kinds of goggles with different frames and lenses, so do your research before you invest in a pair.
3. Face Shields
Face shields are incredibly important when it comes to working with chemicals or working in an environment that has potentially dangerous hazards, such as in a hospital in a ward with infectious patients or a profession such as welding where dangerous materials can often spray out near your face.
As the name suggests, face shields protect your eyes as well as the rest of your face.
4. Safety Goggles
These kinds of goggles are versatile and can be worn by workers in a wide range of professions, though they are more common in professions such as the medical field or industrial jobs. Safety goggles have all sorts of lenses for different situations.
5. Medical Safety Glasses
As mentioned, glasses or goggles can be essential items for those working in the medical field, and so safety glasses designed specifically for various situations within this career are essential.
Workers can often be exposed to harmful light when it comes to working in examination rooms or medical laboratories, and so these goggles are excellent for defending the eyes from harmful rays and light.
They can also offer features such as anti-fog coating, durable polycarbonate frames, and glare reduction.
6. Polarized Lens Glasses
These kinds of lenses are used in order to protect the eyes from the glare that can be found on water and snow as well as from sunlight, all of which can cause glare distortions that can give people difficulty when it comes to acknowledging objects and colors.
Polarized lenses allow the user to see with accuracy and clarity, as well as prevent headaches for those with light sensitivity.
7. Photochromic Safety Glasses
These glasses operate according to UV light and will change the color of their lenses depending on the variation of light within your surroundings. This automation can be extremely useful for those who don’t want to change their glasses when they move outdoors from indoors and vice versa.
8. Directed Vented Goggles
As their name suggests, these are goggles that feature ventilation holes, which are located on both the outside and the inside of the frame. The holes are designed to prevent particularly small objects from getting into your eyes.
Because of this, the holes are very small and usually found on either side or on the top of the goggles. These goggles can be used in work environments with a lot of fine debris in the air.
9. Amber Lens Glasses
Often used in low light conditions, amber lenses help to minimize the glare from screens, making them ideal for those such as office workers or computer specialists that are looking at screens frequently.
Amber lenses can aid with blocking out light and are also useful to wear in conditions such as fog or haze.
10. Indirectly Vented Goggles
These kinds of goggles are specifically designed to prevent acids or chemicals from getting into the eyes, making them a necessity in professions that involve handling chemicals.
The indirect venting of the goggles means that no contact can be made between the eyes and any chemicals or debris. This is thanks to the angled vents that can be found on the opposite side of the front of the lens.
These goggles are also well suited for activities such as degreasing and plating, as well as for work in extreme conditions when it comes to temperature thanks to being able to protect the eyes from splashes or sparks.
11. Green Lens Glasses
Glasses with green lenses are the darkest lens color used for blocking out infrared radiation, which is also known as EMR, or electromagnetic radiation.
These radiations can be particularly damaging to the eyes, which is why those who work with machines that give off any infrared radiation have to wear these kinds of glasses, such as those working on welding machines.
12. Non-Vented Goggles
Whilst vented goggles prevent debris from entering the eye and indirectly vented goggles stop liquids like chemicals from getting through, non-vented goggles stop all of the above, including airborne debris, alcohols, and chemicals.
This makes them a great choice for those working in professions that involve both solid debris and liquid chemicals or alcohol. These goggles also utilize full, closed venting, so there is no vent opening whatsoever.
This makes them excellent for conditions that are windy, but can be troublesome when it comes to environments with a lot of fog.
13. Laser Safety Goggles
These kinds of goggles have lenses that can reflect, absorb or attenuate wavelengths of light at certain strengths, protecting the photoreceptors of the eyes, which are incredibly delicate.
Scattered or direct laser radiation can damage or even destroy these photoreceptors, making these goggles essential in facilities with laser operations.
14. Mirrored Glasses
A reflective optical coating makes mirrored glasses look smaller than they are whilst lessening the amount of light that can enter through the tinted lens, making them great for conditions such as snow, water, and ice.
15. Blue Lens Glasses
Working in environments that have a high concentration of yellow lighting or sodium vapor, as well as those that work with screens. Because of this, blue lens glasses are common amongst those working in food processing plants. They are also worn by those on the computer frequently.
16. Forensic Glasses
Similar to medical goggles, forensic glasses are often used by those in the medical or scientific fields and are designed for use with forensic work. They can take away any unnecessary light that can be a hindrance during a forensic investigation.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have 16 different kinds of protective eyewear for a wide range of situations! No matter what you do for a living or how you choose to spend your free time, you’re sure to find a pair of protective glasses or goggles that suit your needs.